windancer

We are NOT NOT NOT getting bored with this topic. Several of us are following along reading everything you both type! I had about given up, since I only got one usable billet from my 10 or 12 tries. I had been mixing coins and doing them in small batches. After reading along so far I have learned to use the 1/2 dollar coins after flattening them, and stack them up tall for a decent size billet. I just tried to get a couple rolls of halves but they arent't available here in our tiny town. They are on my list for next trip to the city. I appreciate the typing you are ALL doing. This is GOOD stuff!

Great job, fine knife. You can get things so perfect that they look machine made, defeating the purpose of making things by hand. Filework just leavs me cold if it is too 'even'. Hand crafted!

WOW! Just WOW!

Nice work and a very usable knife!

Great thread! Thanks to all for chiming in on this. I will try half dollars on my next batch :) Same amount of fuss either way but twice the billet size? Hmmmmm....

Love the bush knife and the rail! Very nice work :) Looks like you are all set. Enjoy! Dave

Very nice work! Dave

OK with the niceties! Let's see some work :) Dave

Induction forge, by far. Have only run the gas forge once or twice in the past year or so. Instant heat, far less expensive and almost no heat build up in the shop.

Nice job! I am in the middle of introducing three new models myself!

here is the link to the entire build thead with pics, costs and sizes http://blacksmith.org/forum/forge-fire/smaug-build-1/

Here is a video from when I first builtthe forge...

I am using the larger of the ones that Grant got set up. Dave

I will not light the forge again until I redo the gas inlet. And were I to light it before that it would not be long enough for it to happen again! The explosion is unburned gas igniting- and could well be enough to cause damage to the burner and unleash the gas through a break or crack. I have no idea about the timing of subsequent occurances- I instantly turn it off. I tried to talk with Ron at the last conference we both attended. His ONLY input was that I should buy one from him and throw away the one I bought from the ribbon burner place [can't think of their name right now]. Because I posted the full saga a couple years ago I am certain everyone was following my adventures. What I would like is pictures of other ribbon burner forges that are working properly. I only know that I am one of very few folks who have this problem :) Since almost all the others are woring without the detonations, and the burner came from a company who specializes in burners, the things that may be different about mine is the setup- which is why I asked about pics. I appreciate everyone trying to help and taking the time to think about this and post up a reply. I really do. But I think that pictures of other setups are the only thing that may help. Thanks, Dave

I built a ribbon burner forge a couple years ago. I don't use it because of the explosions. They generally start after the first 45 to 60 minutes of use. I posted the problem many places, did a ton of searches. I found a very few similar problems but none were ever resolved. I have about $700 into the forge plus it takes up a lot of vaulable room. I currently use a smaller forge sitting on top of it. This has been on my mind for the last couple years. The forge works beautifully and is way more than capable of forge weldingnas well as forge welding without flux. I would like to be able to use it :) After using the forge for 45 minutes or an hour therer is a large VERY LOUD explosion in the forge- about the same as a .22 rifle going off in your ear. I have tried everything anyone thought might be causing it. When this happens it is extremely startling. So it has sat without even being light for ages now. The only thing I can come up with is that maybe my gas post is too close to the burner inlet, and that maybe it needs to be furher away from the burner. I am wondering if this may be causing the problem. I may just add some more pipe and see if it stops the problem. I would not even be comfortable selling this geat forge to anyone the way it is. I am sure these explosions are very dangerous. Any one here have experience with ribbon burners? How long is your pipe between the gas inlet and the burner? Pic would be a huge help to me! Dave

Looks like a fine job :) Now post the next thing you make with it.

Fine knife! I like the whole thing! Dave

The contact cement is STILL holding up well. Dave

Truly gorgeous work with great composition! I love it! Dave

I have an old Stewart Handy worker from around the turn of the century. Mine sits on an old milking stand and I LOVE IT! I pet it sometimes on my way by. May work for small stock, but if you had things to fix and nowhere to work these were just the ticket :) Probably sold by Sears... back in the day. Some things don't need to be useful- just beautiful is enough. Dave

Pics? Please? Dave

You left out a step most knifemakers use: Rough Grind and Finish grind. The rough grind usualy takes the blade edge down to the thickness of a nickel or so. Then heat treat and temper, then the final edge is ground. The rough grind leaves you enough meat to avoid [usualy] warping during heat treat. The stock should be removed in eaqual parts to each side: two passes on the front, twopasses on the back. Being careful to get the grind centered also helps prevent warping/twisting. Get after it- this is not a spectator sport :) Dave

John, one more thank you for puting this together. I have been kind of monitoring this topic for the past couple years. Nice to have this all in one place :) I recently went on a Damascus 'binge' and did nothing but make Damascus for about a month. Figured if I was gonna make a mess of my forge lining I would get my money's worth. Ate the entire guts out of my forge and it still needs relining, along with another piece of kiln floor [the flux ate that too with so many welds being done one after another]. Does the flux-free Damascus welding eat up the forge, maybe from the long hours of high temps, John? Dave

Nice job! Dave

The contact cement is still holding up. I probably won't use copper liners unpinned again. Thanks to all for the input :) Dave